February 2007
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GHSA “Items of Interest” February 2007 Reminders of Changes in the Reclassification Process Incredibly, it is just about time to reclassify member schools for the 2008-2010 cycle. This work will begin in late spring and will be final- ized in January of 2008. The reclassification process has been changed over the past year, so it is important to refresh our collective memories about those changes. In March (2006) and August (2006), constitutional amendments passed two votes of the Executive Committee, and that also changed the procedures in By-Law 4.16. Since the final vote occurred after the printing of the 2006-07 GHSA Constitution and By-laws, this information can only be found in the min- utes of the past two Executive Committee meetings. Reclassification for public schools will be based on an average of the FTE counts provided by the Georgia Department of Education for the spring semester (2007) and the fall semester (2007). This means that the communications to the membership and appeals processes will be compacted into a timeframe beginning in late-October to ending in mid-January. It is believed that this change will provide more accurate information about member schools whose popula- tions are changing so rapidly. Private schools will be reclassified on their actual FTE counts at the beginning of the 2007-08 school year. Shortly after the fall count is released by the Department of Education, the classifications will be estab- lished and sent to schools for review (probably in early November) and schools will have two weeks to file their requests to play at a higher classification. As soon as the classifications are set, the Reclassification Committee will meet to place the schools in each classification into regions and sub-regions. When this has been completed, schools will be notified and will have two weeks to appeal for lateral transfers (probably in mid-December). The final reclassification place- ments will be ratified by the Executive Committee at a specially called meeting in January of 2008. – Ralph Swearngin, Executive Director Page 2 GHSA “Items of Interest” February 2007 GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION Newsletter Attention Tennis Coaches! Issued monthly, September through April, by the Georgia High The site has been determined for the Semifinal and Final School Association, P.O. Box 271, Thomaston, GA 30286 rounds of the upcoming 2007 State Tennis Tournament. Telephone: 706-647-7473 FAX: 706-647-2638 The final two rounds will be played at the Clayton County Web site: www.ghsa.net International Park’s Tennis Center on May 11 and 12. The schedule of teams to report for the Semifinals and Finals can OFFICE HOURS: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday be found on Pages 81 and 82 of the GHSA Constitution & By- Laws on the GHSA web site (www.ghsa.net). Vol. 25 February 2007 No. 5 First-round matchups can be found on the playoff bracket in Appendix “B” also on the GHSA web site. - GHSA STAFF - And please remember that the format for the second and Areas of Responsibility third rounds was changed at the August Executive Commit- RALPH SWEARNGIN (extension 7) tee meeting. Sectional play, as mentioned on Page 81 of the - Executive Director - Constitution & By-Laws, has been eliminated in favor of a Administration, Interpretation of GHSA Rules, Hardship Appeals, Lacrosse, Volleyball return to play on the courts of the highest-seeded teams. The first round of play must be completed by April 27, the GARY PHILLIPS (extension 6) second round must be completed by May 2 and the third round - Assistant Executive Director - Student Eligibility, Community Coach Program, must be completed by May 8. Cross Country, Wrestling, Track, Golf JOYCE KAY (extension 5) STATE CHAMPIONS - Associate Executive Director - Finances, Entry Notification, Agendas, Literary, One-Act Play, Debate, Cheerleading, Riflery TEAM DUAL WRESTLING Congratulations to the following State Champions in Team Dual STEVE FIGUEROA (extension 4) - Director of Media Relations - Wrestling: Press Releases, Media Coordination for State Events, Newsletter, Football Schedules, Constitution, Calendar, Tennis AAAAA - McEachern High School JIM BULLINGTON (extension 33) - Technology Specialist - AAAA - Stockbridge High School Web Page Supervision, Database Management, Technical Support PAM THOMPSON (extension 30) AAA - Gilmer High School - Officials' Registrar - Officials' Registration, Test Scoring and Records AA - Wesleyan High School DENNIS PAYNE (extension 23) - Associate Director - A - Jefferson High School Football, Baseball, Swimming ERNIE YARBROUGH (extension 27) Winning a State Championship is an outstanding achievement - Associate Director - for the GHSA member schools, their athletes and coaches, and Basketball, Soccer, Softball a distinction that should create a great deal of pride in the school TANYA ANDERSON (extension 2) community. - Administrative Assistant - Sanctioning of Events, School Passes, Directory, Coaches’ Clinic Attendance GHSA SPORTSMANSHIP STATEMENT JULIE JONES (extension 1) Please insure that the following statement is read as a - Administrative Assistant - public address announcement prior to the start of every GHSA Dues, Community Coach Program sanctioned contest: SHERI COKER (extension 0) - Receptionist - “The GHSA and its member schools have made a commit- Lifetime Passes, School System Passes, ment to promote good sportsmanship by student/athletes, Ejection Reports, Publication Orders coaches, and spectators at all GHSA sanctioned events. Profanity, degrading remarks, and intimidating actions directed GHSA Online Store at officials or competitors will not be tolerated, and are grounds for removal from the event site. Spectators are not You are invited to check out the GHSA Store and Licensees allowed to enter the competition area during warm-ups or for a full list of products and services at www.ghsa.net. while the contest is being conducted. Thank you for your To preorder or purchase surplus championship t-shirts, please cooperation in the promotion of good sportsmanship at today’s contact All-Star Outfitters, the official event merchandise supplier event.” of the GHSA at 770-590-0075 and www.asoapparel.com. February 2007 GHSA “Items of Interest” Page 3 GHSA Reminders: Attention Basketball Coaches! EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ITEMS: Anyone wishing to BASKETBALL ROSTERS PAST DUE: Coaches and/ have an item included on the agenda for the March State or Athletic Directors are reminded that the deadline for typ- Executive Committee meeting must submit the item to the ing in Basketball Rosters on the GaSports web site was GHSA office by February 16, 2007. The State Executive February 1. Committee meeting will be held March 19, 2007 at the If you have not already entered in your roster, please Holiday Inn in Forsyth. do so IMMEDIATELY to avoid a fine and the possibility that FOOTBALL SCHEDULES: Coaches and/or Athletic your team’s roster will not be included in the state tourna- Directors are reminded that 2007 varsity Football Sched- ment program. ules are due in the GHSA office no later than March 1, 2007. Rosters are NOT to be faxed or mailed to the GHSA If your school has hired a new coach for the 2007 season, office this year, as announced in your Forms Notebook. please make sure he is made aware of this deadline. OPEN MEET DEADLINE: Member schools are re- Here are the instructions for entering rosters online: minded that April 1, 2007 is the deadline to notify the GHSA (The website is: www.gasports.com) of entry in Open Meet State Events such as Volleyball, The coach must be registered as a coach on the web Slow Pitch Softball, Lacrosse, AA/A Soccer, Wrestling, site. E-mail Steve Copeland at [email protected] if Riflery and Gymnastics for the school year 2007-2008. The they are not sure or do not know their password. form for notification can be found in the GHSA Forms Book. They will log in with their email address and password. SPRING CHEERLEADING TRYOUTS: Cheerleading Once they login, at the top left of the page, next to the practice/tryouts are limited to a maximum of 10 consecu- Welcome Back message, click the Coach’s Control Panel tive days per school between February 1 and the last day link. (If the link says “Edit My Info” instead, log off and back students are in school. Once tryouts are complete, no fur- on again.) For coaches that coach multiple sports, make ther practices may be held until school is out. sure Boys Basketball or Girls Basketball is shown as the sport at the top. On the control panel, move the mouse pointer over the GHSA Seeks Host Sites words “Team Functions” and a menu will drop down. Click Each year there are many schools who contribute to the “Team Roster” function. the success of the GHSA programs by hosting a region/ There are five blank rows. Fill in the rows and click area or state event as a service to our member schools. Save. The names will be saved and five more blank rows Beginning in March and April, the GHSA office will be will be added. Continue until the entire roster is entered. determining sites for events for the 2007-08 school year. Steve Copeland’s phone number is 404-259-3838 if you Sites will need to be set for the following events: have any problems or questions. ■ Region Cheerleading ■ Area Wrestling (Traditional) CHANGES IN 2007 BASKETBALL SECTIONALS: ■ Area Wrestling (Team Duals) Please be aware of the following changes in the upcoming ■ State Golf Basketball Sectionals that are different from what was pub- If your school would like to host one of the above lished in the Constitution & By-Laws: events, please notify the GHSA office. ■ Class A, South has been moved from Brewton-Parker GHSA on TV College to Savannah State University. Comcast Sports Southeast (CSS) will broadcast the GHSA Traditional Wrestling Championship on Sunday, Feb- ■ Class AAAA, South has been moved from the Ma- ruary 25 at 5:00 p.m.